Baltimore Orioles sign free agent relief pitcher Luis Ayala – MLB News
The Baltimore Orioles have signed free agent relief pitcher Luis Ayala to a one year deal worth $825,000 excluding incentives and performance bonuses. While other details are yet to come in the media, the deal also includes a second year team option for $1 million with $100,000 buyout rights.
Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said, “I think it gives us a little more depth in the bullpen, We’ll see how it develops in the spring. I like having the veterans in the bullpen to compliment the young pitchers. I think that will make us a little stronger staff as a whole this year.”
Last year, Ayala played for the New York Yankees and earned 2.09 ERA along with 39 strike-outs and consistent 1.27 WHIP. Playing in the Major League for almost six years, Ayala possesses some huge talent achieving 3.47 ERA with 18 saves, 294 strike-outs and 1.29 WHIP.
He has vast experience mainly playing along-side five different Major League teams in the past. Ayala started his career from the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals’ platform but eventually went ahead to play for more top level MLB teams including the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Florida Marlins and New York Yankees.
Ayala, who throughout his career has never showed any loop holes in his game, is a very bright sign for the Orioles, who are also trying hard to overcome some drastic drought of talent that is needed to play well in the next season.
Experts believe that achieving great results might not count much for the Orioles' management, but instead, they are looking for future consistent postseason spots. This will also possibly increase their chances to win the World Series Championship for the next MLB season as well.
Ayala however, also knows why he has been chosen by the Orioles' management. First, he has to be pitching as backup for the Orioles’ other relievers and secondly to provide his team with several options to use him whenever needed. This is highly unlikely that as soon as Ayala will join the Orioles, the results will follow, but still this is an optimistic thinking that the Orioles will be stronger than last season.
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